Avatar for a portable device

Abstract

A portable device comprises a data storage for storing avatar data defining a user avatar. The user avatar is formed by a plurality of visual objects. The portable device further comprises a camera for capturing an image. A visual characteristic processor is arranged to determine a first visual characteristic from the image and an avatar processor is arranged to set an object visual characteristic of an object of the plurality of visual objects in response to the first visual characteristic. The invention may allow improved customization of user avatars. For example, a color of an element of a user avatar may be adapted to a color of a real-life object simply by a user taking a picture thereof.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a portable device storing avatar data defining a user avatar and in particular, but not exclusively, to a portable communication device such as a cellular mobile phone.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The increasing variety, availability, and popularity of communication and computer consumer devices have in recent years led to a number of new applications and services being provided to users. For example, online gaming, such as in multi-user games, have become popular as have various new communication services including instant messaging and chat services.[0003]In many such new services and applications, the user may be represented by an avatar. An avatar provides a virtual representation of a user in the form of a visual model. The model is typically a graphical model and may, e.g., be a three-dimensional model, as used in many multi-user computer games, or a two-dimensional image, as is often used for communication services and ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The invention may allow an improved or facilitated modification of a user avatar and may in particular allow increased personalization or customization of an avatar. The invention may allow improved user satisfaction for a number of services and applications using avatars to represent users.

[0009]In particular, portable devices with built-in cameras may be used to easily and efficiently adapt visual characteristics of an avatar to real-world visual characteristics encountered by the user. The avatar may, e.g., be modified in real time and may in particular be modified directly as and when the user identifies a real-life object based on which he would like to customize the avatar.

[0012]The portable device may be any device suitable for carrying by the user. In particular, the portable device may have dimensions of less than 15 cm by 10 cm by 5 cm. Thus, the invention may allow a small device which is convenient for the user to carry at all times to be used to adapt the user avatar as and when the user encounters real-life objects that he would like to base an avatar customization on. In particular, the portable device may be a mobile phone. This may provide a high degree of user satisfaction as a device mainly aimed at providing other services (namely communication services) and frequently carried by the user for these reasons can also be used to provide the user with a potentially continuous opportunity to adapt an avatar to real-life objects the user may come across.

Problems solved by technology

However, although the selection of predefined components and characteristics allows some personalization, the degree of personalization is relatively limited.

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